The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-04
TREASURES OF THE DEEP.
Scraping the Bottom of Delaware Bay for
the Wrecks of Money-Laden Ships.
Special to the IndianaDolis Journal.

| Special to the Indianapolis Journai.
| TRENTON, n. j., Dec. 3.-There never was a
| more systematic search made for Captain Kidd 8
gold than is being made at the present time for
treasure in Delaware bay, just off the famous
resort of Cape May in this State. The search
is being conducted under the auspices of some
of the richest and most prominent Philadel-
phians. whose names viii be given further on.
They are spending a great deal of money and
they have reason to expect tremendous returns
from their investment. They have formed
themselves into a syndicate and propose to in
spect all ships that were sunk, laden with
wealth, in Delaware bay early in the present
century. What is supposed to be the bonanza
of the shore is the wreck of the Spanish ship
Gautamozin, which was lost on Seven Mile
Beach in January, 1902 She was bound from
South American ports and China to New York,
and the legends have it that in the powder mag
azine stored ten iron bound chests, each
containing $4,000 worth of bullion.
The Philadelphians organized themselves into
a corporation known as the Atlantic and Gulf
Wrecklng Company and about year ago OBJ
tanned papers from unknown source giving a
diagram of the place where the Gautamozin
SUNK. Preparations for treasure hunting We're
at once made.
The company, after locating many of the
wrecks OF treasure-laden galleons, sent out one
OF its small sloops, equipped with unique appa-
ratus for searching the bottom of the deep. The
treasure hunters crused about the place where
the wrecks Were supposed to be, dragging huge
graphing irons that would readily catch on any
projecting piece of timber or iron. 1t was not
long before the boats succeeded in locating a
wreck just off Seven mile Beach. driver
sent to investigate the bottom of the He
found the graphing irons closed over the bull
Wark of a large ship, the hull of which was
deeply covered with sand and seaweed. From
pecularities in the vessels build she was be-
heved to be the Gautamozin. Buoys were
placed over the wreck. which lies about half
mile from shore and preparations were made
for thoroughly searching it Immense hydraulic
steam pumps were put in position and slowly
the sand was removed. The water was
only twenty feet deep and the divers
could easily be seen from the slooPs
masthead. At last what was undoubtedly
the corner of an iron-bound treasure chest was
brought to light The box was "a big one-so
Dig, IN fact that change in operations was
mace necessary in order to get at it, While
TINS change was being made a fierce storm arose,
ana the sloop was obliged to abandon the wreck
and make for sheltering port.
just at this time Seven-NIile Beach changed
owners, and the new proprietors for a time
warned 11 Oh the greedy treasure seekers. All
Work was suspended. Lately il has been
sumed, but not without the addition to the
pany as members of the owners of Seven-mile
beach. The treasure company claim to have in
us possession the original invoice saved from
the wreck, and showing beyond question that
goa was IN the cargo of the lost Gautamozin.
me grandfather of Capt. George Hildreth, of
cape Nay, kept a diary in the early part of the
century, IN which was entered the wreck of the
Gautalnozln The diary, which is now in the
captain $ possession, tells of how chests of tea
We're earted from the wreck day after day, but
makes no allusion to treasure rescued or lost.
after lapse OF a few days the diary tells of the
enc WAS loaded with flour and cotton, and bound
from New Orleans to New York. Capt Hill
oreln subsequently, had pointed out to him by
wreck of the Nh ar and i ,,o,v of Tho o,,;n
ion that The seekers bava mistaken
that vessel for Ls l-..,1tamoziD
Be that as it 4ty lie wrecLinr, connanv s
once more at W. he stInlen vvraclt which
was covered = .'s per with sand ~ the fast
recurring storm * asst Winter ayno,,o fine
o"Iets OF Seven ahas seach is Frank Siddal.
oesiu-s- tnere Al s7& ancoaats- Biddles. Halls